Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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350. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of the reinstatement of the bereavement grant; if he will consider the reinstatement of this grant in the context of the 2018 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16221/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In recent Budgets my Department has protected primary social welfare rates. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided a significant annual saving and allowed my Department to protect other core social welfare payments such as the State pension.

The number of bereavement grant claims in 2013 was 23,716, and this represented an increase of approximately 4% on 2012. Based on a similar yearly increase each year since 2013, it is estimated that the number of bereavement grant claims that might arise in 2018, were the scheme to be re-introduced, would be in the region of 28,858, and this number would likely increase in future years. The following table sets out the estimated cost of re-introducing the grant at a rate of €850.

Any decision to reinstate the Bereavement Grant would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.

It’s worth noting that there are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the grant. These include a weekly paid widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s (contributory and non-contributory) pensions, which are based on contributions or a means test, and a once-off widowed or surviving civil partner grant of €6,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State pension, continue in payment for six weeks following a death. In Budget 2016, the Government increased the payment after death period to 12 weeks for carer’s allowance. Guardian payments are available where someone cares for an orphaned child. A special funeral grant of €850 is paid where a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease.

Additionally, the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. Under the SWA scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income, which may include help with funeral and burial expenses. The Government has provided €31.5 million for exceptional and urgent needs payments in 2017.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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351. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16232/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The gentleman referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 16 February 2017. Payment will issue to his nominated bank account on the 13 April 2017. Any arrears due from 16 February 2017 to 12 April 2017 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The gentleman in question was notified of this decision on 30 March 2017.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.